Top 3 Smoky Mountain Attractions with a Spectacular View of the Night Sky

Feb 18, 2019

The Smoky Mountains offer the perfect opportunity for stargazing, especially on those nights when the sky is crystal clear! The Smokies are also free of light pollution from major cities so that you can really see the stars brightly shine in the night sky! While you can stargaze from virtually anywhere throughout Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, there are several attractions where you can get an even better perspective! Here are the top 3 Smoky Mountain attractions that provide a spectacular view of the night sky:

1. Gatlinburg Space Needle

Take your stargazing to new heights with an elevator ride to the top of the Gatlinburg Space Needle! This 407-foot-tall observation tower provides a 360-degree view of the Smoky Mountains during the daytime and a phenomenal view of the stars at night! The tower is served by a pair of glass elevators and you can wander around the top for as long as you want! While on the observation platform, don’t miss the Higher Learning exhibits that are rich in facts and history about Gatlinburg and the Smoky Mountains.

2. Great Smoky Mountain Wheel

Another one of the Smoky Mountain attractions that offers spectacular views of the night sky is the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel! This 200 foot tall Ferris wheel is the centerpiece to The Island in Pigeon Forge and is a breathtaking experience during the evening hours! You will not only get to see the gorgeous night sky as it shines above the Smokies, but the dazzling lights of the shops and restaurants down below. The Great Smoky Mountain Wheel features all glass gondolas to provide incredible views in all directions and each gondola can seat up to 8 guests.

3. Gatlinburg SkyLift

When it comes to amazing nighttime views in the Smoky Mountains, it doesn’t get much better than a ride on the Gatlinburg SkyLift! This ski-lift style attraction originally opened in 1954 and has become a mandatory experience for thousands of visitors each year! The current SkyLift was built in 2018 and offers a smooth ride on a comfortable 3 seat chairlift. Your journey starts from the heart of downtown Gatlinburg and travels 500 vertical feet to the top of Crockett Mountain for views that have to be seen to be believed! See how many stars you can count before the chairlift slowly turns back around for the ride back down the mountain.

Where to Stay

Stay just minutes from these Smoky Mountain attractions with a vacation at Acorn Cabin Rentals! After a ride on the Great Smoky Mountain Wheel or the Gatlinburg SkyLift, come back to your cabin to continue stargazing on your very own private deck! You can even kick back in the bubbling hot tub to find constellations and other celestial wonders in the sky! While staying in our affordable cabins, you can also enjoy comfortable bedrooms, fully equipped kitchens, fireplaces, game rooms and much more!